Backyard Witch: Sadie's Story by Christine Heppermann and Ron Koertge, illustrated by Deborah Marcero Ages 7-10 176 pages Greenwillow Books July 2015 Hardcover     Nine-year-old Sadie is jealous because her two best friends, Jess and Maya, are going to Moose Head Lake without her. She imagines all the fun they will be having for the four days they are away. Sadie’s health-conscious parents lead a busy life, so they don’t notice when she befriends a witch who has moved into her playhouse. Although the witch is much older than Sadie, they have a few things in common. They both have been teased about their names, and they both miss their best friends. It doesn’t matter that the witch’s best friends are a bird and a cat; Sadie agrees to help her look for them. This chapter book teaches children about birdwatching. The witch is an avid birdwatcher and shares her favorite pastime with Sadie. After spending hours looking for Ethel, the bird, Sadie learns to appreciate the beauty of birds and spending time with new friends. There are a few instances in the story when the witch uses her magic in clever ways (she saves Sadie’s playhouse from being sold), but this witch prefers to do things herself or with the help of a friend. There is not a happy reunion for everyone at the end of the book, but there is hope--and sometimes that is all one needs. The black-and-white illustrations that appear throughout the book add interest to the story and give a general idea about the appearance of some of the birds featured in the story. A small bibliography and a few birding tips appear on the last pages of the book. There are no boys in the story, so this book may appeal more to girls.     web reviews   Tanya Boudreau/2016 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)